European powers propose sanctions against Iran

Britain, France and Germany have proposed to the European Union sanctions against Iran, linked to its programme of ballistic missiles and its role in the Syria war, Reuters reportedly has seen in a document.

According to this news agency, this document may be intended to meet the demands of US President Donald Trump, and keep it “devoted to” to the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.

Trump threatened earlier that he would withdraw from this agreement.

Reuters, citing two people close to the issue, said the document was sent to EU capitals on March 16th to measure the level of support for new sanctions.

Under EU rules, all 28 member states must agree to such sanctions.

The document also says Britain, France and Germany are involved in <x0 intense talks with the Trump administration to achieve clear and sustainable reaffirmation of US support for the nuclear agreement after May 12th”.

Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the deal if the European allies and the American Congress disagree until 12 May to regulate, as he has said, the catastrophic “shortcomings” in the deal.

With this agreement, reached in 2015, Iran has agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for easing international sanctions.

Trump says Tehran has violated “the operation of the nuclear agreement and that it uses its ballistic missile programme to continue developing nuclear weapons.

Iran has said that if the United States withdraws from the deal, it too will withdraw.